First Measurement of Differential Charged Current Quasielastic-like $\nu_\mu$-Argon Scattering Cross Sections with the MicroBooNE Detector

TL;DR

This paper presents the first measurement of differential charged-current quasielastic-like muon neutrino-argon scattering cross sections using the MicroBooNE detector, providing data that largely agree with theoretical models and enhancing understanding of neutrino interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first flux-integrated differential cross section measurements for $ u_mu$-argon CCQE-like interactions with detailed muon and proton kinematics.

Findings

Measured total CCQE-like cross section of (4.93 1.29) ^{-38}cm^2 per nucleus.

Single differential cross sections agree with theoretical predictions across most kinematic ranges.

Discrepancies observed at very forward muon angles, indicating areas for further study.

Abstract

We report on the first measurement of flux-integrated single differential cross sections for charged-current (CC) muon neutrino ($\nu_\mu$) scattering on argon with a muon and a proton in the final state, $^{40}$Ar($\nu_\mu$,$\mu$p)X. The measurement was carried out using the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber detector with an exposure of 4.59 $\times$ 10$^{19}$ protons on target. Events are selected to enhance the contribution of CC quasielastic (CCQE) interactions. The data are reported in terms of a total cross section as well as single differential cross sections in final state muon and proton kinematics. We measure the integrated per-nucleus CCQE-like cross section (i.e. for interactions leading to a muon, one proton and no pions above detection threshold) of (4.93 $\pm$ 0.76stat $\pm$ 1.29sys) $\times$ 10$^{-38}$cm$^2$, in good agreement with theoretical calculations. The single differential cross sections are also in overall good agreement with theoretical predictions, except at very forward muon scattering angles that correspond to low momentum-transfer events.